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AESAES Corporation

Utilities · Power Producers · NYSE
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SEC comment letters, last 20 years

2 reviews of AES's filings by SEC staff

UPLOAD and CORRESP
ReviewsRead ↓
2
latest letter 2014-06-03
Questions asked
19
each answered in the company's own letter
No closing letter
0
reviews without a letter saying the staff completed it

When the SEC's staff reviews a filing, it writes to the company with numbered questions, and the company answers each one in a letter. SEC publishes the exchange once the review is over, at least 20 business days later. A question is not an accusation; most reviews end with the company adding detail to its next filing.

Form 10-K

2014-06-03 to 2014-07-28 · 14 questions · 2 letters from the SEC, 2 from the company
Review closed 2014-07-28
Liquidity and cashNon-GAAP measuresReserves and insuranceDebtLegal and contingenciesSegmentsResults discussion (MD&A)Goodwill and impairmentAcquisitions
Capital Resources and Liquidity, page 98 · Overview, page 98
SEC asked (1)
We note your disclosure in note 7 to the financial statements that you have $122 million of noncurrent receivables which have not been converted into financing receivables and do not have contractual maturities of greater than one year.
Rest of the question

Please tell us your consideration of revising your disclosure in the second to last full paragraph on page 99 regarding certain accounts receivable classified as noncurrent to address the nature and terms of this $122 million in noncurrent receivables, including your assessment of any risk associated with collection of these receivables.

AES answered
In response to the Staff’s Comment, the Company agrees that to the extent applicable, it will provide more specific disclosure regarding the noncurrent receivables which have not been converted into financing receivables and do not have contractual maturities greater than one year.

In the case of the $122 million of non-current receivables noted in the Staff’s comment, the Company notes that approximately $101 million of the receivables was expected to be contributed to finance construction of facilities in Argentina pursuant to the FONINVEMEM program in Argentina, while the remaining $21
Rest of the answer

million relates to the receivables to be contributed into new trusts to be set up by the Argentine government under Resolution 95. The Company has included disclosure regarding the FONINVEMEM program and Resolution 95 in the Form 10-K, including at Note 7—Long-Term Financing Receivables (incorporated by referenced in the second to last paragraph on page 99 that was noted in the Staff’s comment), Item 8- Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, and Item 1. – Business – Regulatory matters – Argentina.

As noted above, in future filings and to the extent applicable, the Company agrees that it will provide disclosure that will expand its current disclosure in Note 7 in a manner similar to the following:

“Excludes noncurrent receivables of $122 million and $120 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, which have not been converted into financing receivables and do not have contractual maturities of greater than one year. Of the $122 million, approximately $101 million is expected to be contributed to a FONINVEMEM Agreement and approximately $21 million is expected to be contributed to a trust to be set up by the Argentine government as required by Resolution 95. Also, excludes the foreign currency-related embedded derivative assets associated with the financing receivables which had a fair value of $97 million and $69 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2013 and 2012.”

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In its next report

First report after the company's reply of 2014-06-17: 10-Q filed 2014-08-07 ↗, against the 10-Q filed 2014-05-08 ↗.

Tickdelta does not hold the text of both reports, so they are not compared here.

Proportional Free Cash Flow (a non-GAAP measure), page 103
SEC asked (2)
Please tell us your consideration of disclosing how you computed the proportional adjustment factor applied in arriving at proportional operating cash flow, proportional maintenance capital expenditures, net of reinsurance proceeds and proportional nonrecoverable environmental capital expenditures each period.
Rest of the question

We believe this information is necessary to make the reconciliation to operating cash flows clearly understandable, as contemplated in Item 10(e)(1)(i)(b) of Regulation S-K. Please also tell us your consideration of disclosing this same information where you disclose proportional free cash flow in earnings releases furnished on Form 8-K.

AES answered
As further described below, the Company agrees that it will provide additional disclosure explaining the computation of the proportional adjustment factor.

As background, the proportional adjustment factor is used to calculate AES’ ownership interest in the metric in question (e.g., proportional operating cash flow, proportional maintenance capital expenditures and proportional non-recoverable environmental capital expenditures).
Rest of the answer

In calculating the proportional adjustment factor, the Company simply takes the consolidated number and multiplies by the non-controlling interest for each consolidated subsidiary that is not wholly-owned. For example, the Company owns approximately 70% of AES Gener, its subsidiary in Chile. Assuming a consolidated net cash flow from operating activities of $100 from AES Gener, the proportional adjustment factor for AES Gener would equal approximately $30. The Company calculates the proportional adjustment factor for each consolidated business and adds these amounts together to calculate the total proportional adjustment factor used in the reconciliation. The proportional adjustment factor is then subtracted from consolidated net cash flow from operating activities to arrive at proportional operating cash flow, as presented in the Company’s reconciliation of this metric.

The Company notes that it currently includes the following disclosure in its description of the computation: “We define Proportional Free Cash Flow as cash flows from operating activities less maintenance capital expenditures (including non-recoverable environmental capital expenditures), adjusted for the estimated impact of non-controlling interests.” In future filings, the Company will add the following sentence after this disclosure: “The proportionate share of cash flows and related adjustments attributable to noncontrolling interests in our subsidiaries comprise the proportional adjustment factor presented in the reconciliation below.”

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In its next report

First report after the company's reply of 2014-06-17: 10-Q filed 2014-08-07 ↗, against the 10-Q filed 2014-05-08 ↗.

Tickdelta does not hold the text of both reports, so they are not compared here.

Proportional Free Cash Flow (a non-GAAP measure), page 103
SEC asked (3)
We note you include a schedule of capital expenditures with your presentations of non- GAAP financial measures in earnings releases furnished on Form 8-K. Please explain to us why the total capital expenditures per the tabular 8-K disclosure is higher than total capital expenditures in your Form 10-K and your consideration of providing a similar schedule here of capital expenditures reconciled to capital
Rest of the question

expenditures disclosed in your statements of cash flows.

AES answered
The Company reports capital expenditures in the following two lines in its statements of cash flows as required by ASC 230-10-45-13.c.: “Capital expenditures” and “Payments for financed capital expenditures.” The sum of these two lines equals the capital expenditures included in the Company’s earnings releases, as per the below table.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows:

2013

2012

Capital expenditures

$

1,988

2,108

Payments for financed capital expenditures

591

162

Total Capital Expenditures (per Earnings Release)

2,579

2,270

In response to the Staff’s comment, the Company
Rest of the answer

agrees that in future periodic filings, in the Proportional Free Cash Flow section of Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, it will include a schedule similar to the one provided in the Company’s earnings press release.

Read in the reply ↗
In its next report

First report after the company's reply of 2014-06-17: 10-Q filed 2014-08-07 ↗, against the 10-Q filed 2014-05-08 ↗.

Tickdelta does not hold the text of both reports, so they are not compared here.

Parent Company Liquidity, page 105
SEC asked (4)
Please refer to the last paragraph under this heading. You indicate that one or more of the subsidiaries currently in default could at some point in time fall within the definition of a “material subsidiary” and trigger an event of default and possible acceleration of the Parent Company’s outstanding debt securities.
Rest of the question

Please tell us your consideration of describing what would constitute a “material subsidiary” to enable investors to better understand the risk of cross-default. Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, page 114 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, page 120 8. Investments in and Advances to Affiliates, page 141

AES answered
As noted in the Company’s Form 10-K, at this time there are no subsidiaries which meet the definition of “material subsidiary.” Nevertheless, in response to the Staff’s Comment, the Company agrees that in future filings, it will note that “material subsidiary” is defined in its senior secured revolving credit facility as any business that contributed 20% or more of the Parent Company’s total cash distributions from businesses for the four most recently completed fiscal quarters. Read in the reply ↗
In its next report

First report after the company's reply of 2014-06-17: 10-Q filed 2014-08-07 ↗, against the 10-Q filed 2014-05-08 ↗.

Tickdelta does not hold the text of both reports, so they are not compared here.

Parent Company Liquidity, page 105
SEC asked (5)
We note your disclosure that the aggregate carrying amount of investments in equity affiliates exceeds the underlying equity in their net assets by $214 million at December 31, 2013. Please refer to ASC 323-10-50-3 and tell us your consideration of disclosing your accounting treatment for this difference.
Rest of the question

In addition, we note that the carrying amount of investments in equity affiliates exceeded the underlying equity in their net assets by only $37 million at December 31, 2012. Please help us understand the cause of the increased difference between the carrying amount and underlying equity in net assets of equity affiliates during 2013. In this regard, we note that undistributed earnings of equity affiliates only increased $18 million in this same period, and there do not appear to be any significant new equity affiliates in 2013. 12. Debt, page 149

AES answered
As contemplated by ASC 323-10-35, AES frequently has carrying amounts of investments in equity affiliates that exceed the underlying equity in their net assets because the Company acquires the investments after the inception of the affiliate and the fair value implied by the cost of investment is higher than the carrying amount of that proportion of the equity in net assets.

In responding to the Staff’s comment, the Company determined that the disclosure in its 2013 Form 10-K of the difference between the carrying amount of investments in equity affiliates and underlying equity in net assets
Rest of the answer

of equity affiliates is correct. However, the comparable disclosure in the 2012 Form 10-K should have been $109 million instead of $37 million. The disclosure difference in the 2012 Form 10-K had no impact to amounts reported on AES’ consolidated balance sheets, consolidated statements of operations, consolidated statements of comprehensive income, consolidated statements of changes in equity or consolidated statements of cash flows as of and for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012. The Company determined this disclosure difference to be both quantitatively and qualitatively immaterial as it is not probable that the judgment of a reasonable person relying upon our financial statements would have been changed or influenced by the correction of the disclosure difference.

The 2013 to 2012 change in the difference between the carrying amount of investments in equity affiliates and underlying equity in net assets of equity affiliates is explained in the table below and related notes thereto:

(in millions)

Carrying

Amount of

Underlying

Equity

Investments in

Equity in

Change in

Affiliate

Equity Affiliates

Net Assets

Difference

Trinidad

-

(51

)

Entek

165

167

(2

234

286

(52

Guacolda

245

164

196

193

Others

600

465

135

742

605

137

1,010

796

214

1,196

1,159

177 a)

At December 31, 2012, the underlying equity in net assets of Trinidad was greater than the carrying amount of the investment in equity affiliate because the 90% majority partner in Trinidad Generation Unlimited contributed additional capital into Trinidad Generation Unlimited. The Company did not make a proportional contribution, which resulted in a $51 million difference between the Company’s carrying amount and the underlying equity in net assets of Trinidad Generation Unlimited. The Company sold its interest in Trinidad Generation Unlimited during the third quarter of 2013.

b)

A $37 million loan made by the Company to Entek (Turkey) to acquire a project was appropriately classified as a liability by Entek as of December 31, 2012. During 2013, this loan was converted into equity.

c)

For Guacolda and Entek, the underlying equity in net assets should have been $135 million and $272 million instead of $193 million and $286 million, respectively.

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First report after the company's reply of 2014-06-17: 10-Q filed 2014-08-07 ↗, against the 10-Q filed 2014-05-08 ↗.

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Parent Company Liquidity, page 105
SEC asked (6)
Please refer to Rule 4-08(e)(1) of Regulation S-X and tell us your consideration of disclosing the amount of retained earnings or net income restricted as to the payment of dividends. In this regard, we note your disclosure on page 152 that the senior secured credit facilities include limitations on restricted payments such as shareholder dividends. 14. Contingencies, page 153
AES answered
There are no restrictions on the payment of dividends based on income or retained earnings tests in the Company’s outstanding debt covenants. However, in response to the Staff’s comment, the Company agrees that in future filings, it will include a statement clarifying that when not in compliance with the financial covenants of its senior secured revolving credit facility, restricted payments will be limited to regular quarterly shareholder dividends at the then prevailing rate.
Rest of the answer

The Company will also disclose that payment defaults and bankruptcy defaults also preclude the making of any restricted payments.

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First report after the company's reply of 2014-06-17: 10-Q filed 2014-08-07 ↗, against the 10-Q filed 2014-05-08 ↗.

Tickdelta does not hold the text of both reports, so they are not compared here.

Parent Company Liquidity, page 105
SEC asked (7)
Please refer to ASC 450-20-50-1 and tell us your consideration of revising disclosures under the Environmental and Litigation subheadings to replace the term “reserves” with other terminology that is descriptive of the nature of the accrual, such as estimated liability.
Rest of the question

Use of the term “reserves” may create confusion since accrual of a loss related to a contingency does not create or set aside funds to lessen the possible financial impact of a loss. Additionally, please tell us your consideration of discussing in the footnotes or Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations any significant changes in your contingency accrual, such as the $81 million reduction of the accrual during 2013. 17. Segments and Geographic Information, page 162

AES answered
In response to the Staff’s comment, the Company agrees that beginning with the 2nd Quarter 2014 Form 10-Q, under the Environmental and Litigation subheadings, the Company will replace the terms “reserves” and “reserved” with descriptions contained in ASC 450-20, such as “estimated liability” or “accrual.”

The reduction in the contingency accrual during 2013 is principally due to foreign currency rate changes in Brazil of $27 million, the settlement and payment of liabilities that were less than the amount of the related contingency accrual of $30 million, and the reduction of accrued
Rest of the answer

liabilities when the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome was no longer probable of $10 million. In future filings, we will provide the detail of similar changes in the contingency accrual in the footnote on Contingencies to the extent material.

Read in the reply ↗
In its next report

First report after the company's reply of 2014-06-17: 10-Q filed 2014-08-07 ↗, against the 10-Q filed 2014-05-08 ↗.

Tickdelta does not hold the text of both reports, so they are not compared here.

Parent Company Liquidity, page 105
SEC asked (8)
We note that you decreased from nine to six reportable segments in 2013 and as a result, the regulated utility operations are now aggregated with the non-regulated generation operations within each geographic region.
Rest of the question

If you have determined that the regulated utility operations do not represent an operating segment or segments separate and distinct from unregulated generation activities within each region, and particularly in the US and Brazil, please tell us how you applied the guidance in ASC 280-10-50-1 through 9 in determining your operating segments. Alternatively, if operating segments have been aggregated in arriving at the revised reportable segments, please disclose this information pursuant to ASC 280-10-50-21.a. and tell us the basis for such aggregation considering all of the aggregation criteria in ASC 280-10-50-11. 18. Share-Based Compensation, page 165

AES answered
During the fourth quarter of 2013 and in connection with the finalization of its revised internal reporting structure, the Company revised its internal reporting to align more closely with its operations. The Company’s management reporting structure is organized along six strategic business units (“SBUs”) — led by our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) who is also the Company’s Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”).
Rest of the answer

Using the accounting guidance on segment reporting under ASC 280, the Company has determined that it has six operating segments corresponding to its six SBUs.

During the fourth quarter of 2012, under the direction of our new CEO, the Company initiated the process of redefining its operational management structure, which was reorganized along six geographic SBUs. During 2013, the CEO initiated changes to the way in which the company managed the business and the company continued to transition the SBUs under the new management regime. The changes took several months to implement and were completed in the fourth quarter of 2013 culminating with alignment of the internal reporting information provided to the CEO with the SBU management structure. At this time, the company also determined that the CODM consists solely of the CEO as opposed to the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) as the CEO has the ability to override the decisions made by the ELT.

In conjunction with the Company’s change in operating segments, the segment manager for the US SBU manages all of the businesses in the US SBU geographical area and the CEO/CODM now receives only financial information at the SBU level rather than by type of operation. The Company determined that the regulated utility operations do not represent an operating segment separate and distinct from unregulated generation activities within each region because, in accordance with ASC 280-10-50-1, the separate operating results of the regulated utility operations are no longer regularly reviewed by the CODM to make decisions about resources to be allocated to the utility operations and assess their performance.

The Company has elected to not aggregate any operating segments for the purposes of presenting its reportable segments.

Finally, it should be noted that the change in operating segments did not result in any changes to the Company’s reporting units under ASC 350.

Read in the reply ↗
In its next report

First report after the company's reply of 2014-06-17: 10-Q filed 2014-08-07 ↗, against the 10-Q filed 2014-05-08 ↗.

Tickdelta does not hold the text of both reports, so they are not compared here.

Parent Company Liquidity, page 105
SEC asked (9)
We note you use the simplified method in determining the expected term for stock options granted. Please refer to SAB 110 and explain to us why your historical share option exercise experience does not provide a reasonable basis upon which to estimate expected term. 24. Acquisitions and Dispositions, page 177
AES answered
The Company had used the simplified method for estimating the expected term of employee stock options as we had previously determined that we were unable to rely on historical data due to the significant changes in recent years in the types of employees eligible for stock option awards and therefore historical exercise data may no longer have provided a reasonable basis upon which to estimated expected term. Furthermore, alternative information, such as exercise data for employees of other companies, was not easily obtainable.
Rest of the answer

Notwithstanding these points, the Company performed a sensitivity analysis related to 2013 and determined that the stock option expense of approximately $1 million recognized in the year ended December 31, 2013 would not have been materially different had the simplified method not been used for estimating the expected term of employee stock options when measuring the related stock compensation expense. Nevertheless, in response to the Staff’s comment, the Company will use historical data when it can be relied upon as contemplated under SAB 110.

Read in the reply ↗
In its next report

First report after the company's reply of 2014-06-17: 10-Q filed 2014-08-07 ↗, against the 10-Q filed 2014-05-08 ↗.

Tickdelta does not hold the text of both reports, so they are not compared here.

Dispositions, page 177
SEC asked (10)
Please tell us in detail how you concluded that Cartagena should not be classified as discontinued operations upon the sale of your majority interest in this entity in 2012. In this regard, we note your disclosure that the results of Cartagena were not classified as discontinued operations due to the Company’s continued ownership interest, yet we note you only retained a 14% interest in Cartagena after the 2012
Rest of the question

disposal. Additionally, please tell us whether you expected the counterparty to the sale transaction to exercise its option to purchase your remaining 14% interest when the option became exercisable one year and one month after the sale of your majority interest in Cartagena and how this provision of the sale agreement impacted your analysis as to whether classification as discontinued operation was required. Refer to ASC 205-20.

AES answered
As disclosed in Note 24 to our 2012 consolidated financial statements, the Company sold 80% of its interest in the wholly-owned holding company that controls and consolidates Cartagena to GDF Suez in February 2012. Under the terms of the sale agreement, the Company maintained “significant influence” over the holding company as defined by ASC 323 through its representation on its board of directors and by having additional rights that limited the ability of GDF Suez to make unilateral changes to Cartagena.
Rest of the answer

The option granting GDF Suez the right to acquire the last 20% of the holding company could not be exercised until March 2013, which was longer than one year after the sale in February 2012. From the time of the sale until the exercise of the option in April of 2013 (14 months after the original sale), the Board structure and additional rights referenced above remained in place. As such, the Company continued to have significant continuing involvement in Cartagena for at least one year after it had disposed of its controlling financial interest, so the criterion necessary for discontinued operations treatment under ASC 205-20-45-1.b. (as interpreted by ASC 205-20-55-20) was not met (and there were no changes to prompt a reassessment under ASC 205-20-55-22).

Read in the reply ↗
Operations, page 23 · Key Trends and Uncertainties, page 36
SEC asked (11)
We note your disclosure regarding your investments in Bulgaria and the numerous events, any of which could have a material impact on the Company. Please discuss and quantify, to the extent practical, the reasonably likely impact on your results of operations and financial condition of the February 2014 restructuring of NEK as well as Standard and Poor’s lowering of NEK’s credit rating.
Rest of the question

Please also expand your disclosure to discuss if any impairment testing has been conducted, and if so, the results of the testing indicating the factors considered in concluding no adjustments to the assets were necessary.

AES answered
The Company reviewed the guidance in ASC 360-10-35 and determined that there was no indicator of impairment as of March 31, 2014 as there was no reason to believe the carrying amount of the asset group was not recoverable from undiscounted cash flows. The Company determined that there may not be an impact on Maritza, as the power purchase agreement remained in place (as did the Government Support Letter issued in 2005), and Maritza had honored its obligations thereunder and believed that NEK would as well.
Rest of the answer

In addition, NEK remained current under the revised payment schedule noted in the disclosure. In accordance with the guidance in ASC 450-20, the Company concluded that the accounts receivables outstanding from NEK were probable of being fully collected as of March 31, 2014.

Although there was no financial statement impact resulting from events at Maritza, the Company nevertheless provided disclosure in accordance with Instruction 3 to Item 303(a) of Regulation S-K, which seeks disclosure on uncertainties which could cause reported financial information to differ from future operating results. With regard to quantification, the Company notes that neither the downgrade of NEK nor its restructuring by themselves result in economic harm to Maritza under its agreements (e.g., there is no increase in interest rate, penalties or costs that are quantifiable resulting from these events). Furthermore, the Company determined that future impacts could range from zero (as noted in the preceding paragraph) to total loss of the business (if NEK did not honor any obligations under the contract). Therefore, consistent with the Staff’s comment, the Company quantified the $185 million of receivables outstanding (including $19 million current, $45 million not yet due, and $121 million overdue by less than 90 days), the $1.7 billion of long-lived assets held at Maritza, the Company’s $749 million net equity at Maritza, the $820 million of debt in default at Maritza and the $330 million of damages sought by the contractor in the arbitration referenced in the disclosure. These amounts were included so that investors could understand the potential maximum exposure faced by the Company at Maritza.

In future filings, if events occur at Maritza that allow the Company to estimate the reasonably likely impact on AES’ results of operations or financial condition, the Company will update its disclosure accordingly and provide any disclosures that are warranted in the financial statements based on the guidance on ASC 275-10-50

* * *

The Company acknowledges that: (i) the Company is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in its filings; (ii) Staff comments or changes to disclosure in response to Staff comments do not foreclose the Commission from taking any action with respect to the filings; and (iii) the Company may not assert Staff comments as a defense in any proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person under the federal securities laws of the United States.

Read in the reply ↗
In its next report

First report after the company's reply of 2014-06-17: 10-Q filed 2014-08-07 ↗, against the 10-Q filed 2014-05-08 ↗.

Tickdelta does not hold the text of both reports, so they are not compared here.

Capital Resources and Liquidity, page 98 · Proportional Free Cash Flow (a non-GAAP measure), page 103
SEC asked (1)
We reviewed your response to comment 2 in our letter dated June 3, 2014 and we reissue the comment. In this regard, we don’t believe the additional disclosure you intend to provide in future filings clarifies sufficiently how you computed the proportional adjustment factor applied in arriving at proportional operating cash flow, proportional maintenance capital expenditures, net of reinsurance proceeds and
Rest of the question

proportional nonrecoverable environmental capital expenditures. Moreover, we note you have not addressed the last part of our comment regarding disclosures on Form 8-K. In responding to the comment, please help us understand why AES’ proportional interest in each metric in question is so much more significant than AES’ proportional interest in net income (loss) of the consolidated entity each period. For example, we note in the computation of fiscal 2013 proportional operating cash flow, the proportion of cash flow attributed to non-controlling interests appears to be 30%, whereas the proportion of consolidated net income attributed to non-controlling interests in fiscal 2013 was 79%.

AES answered
As further described below, the Company agrees that it will provide additional disclosure explaining the computation of the proportional adjustment factor.

The Company notes that the difference between AES’ proportional interest in cash flow and AES’ proportional interest in consolidated net income (loss) has historically resulted principally from: (a) the impact of non-cash items (such as impairments) that have a significant impact on net income but no impact on cash flows, and (b) the Company’s ownership interest in the subsidiary where such non-cash items occur.
Rest of the answer

For example, in 2013 the Company reported $372 million of goodwill impairments, of which 100% is attributable to AES. These non-cash impairments have a significant impact on consolidated net income, but little to no impact on either net income attributable to non-controlling interests or the amount of operating cash flow attributable to non-controlling interests. Therefore, the proportion of consolidated net income attributable to non-controlling interests is higher than the proportion of cash flow attributable to non-controlling interests.

As shown in the following table, the principal difference between the 79% proportion of consolidated net income attributable to non-controlling interests and the 30% proportion of cash flow attributable to non-controlling interests results from non-cash items recognized in earnings principally at wholly-owned subsidiaries:

Income Statement Line Items

After-tax Amounts

(in millions)

2013 Net Income

$551

Add: Goodwill impairment

$372

Add: Loss on extinguishment of debt

$165

Add: Asset impairment expense

$66

2013 Adjusted Net Income

$1,154

Net Income attributable to non-controlling interests

$437

Proportional Interest in Adjusted Net Income (above)

38%

The remaining difference relates to other less significant non-cash items and the effects of insignificant non-controlling interests.

In response to the Staff’s comment, the Company agrees that in future filings where proportional metrics are used, the Company will expand its disclosure to further explain the proportional adjustment factor. In the case of proportional cash flow, the Company proposes the following disclosure: “The proportional adjustment factor is calculated by multiplying the percentage owned by non-controlling interests for each entity by its corresponding consolidated cash flow metric and adding up the resulting figures. For example, the Company owns approximately 70% of AES Gener, its subsidiary in Chile. Assuming a consolidated net cash flow from operating activities of $100 from AES Gener, the proportional adjustment factor for AES Gener would equal approximately $30 (or $100 x 30%). The Company calculates the proportional adjustment factor for each consolidated business in this manner and then adds these amounts together to determine the total proportional adjustment factor used in the reconciliation. The proportional adjustment factor may differ from the proportion of income attributable to non-controlling interests as a result of (a) non-cash items which impact income but not cash and (b) AES’ ownership interest in the subsidiary where such items occur.”

In the case of the other metrics noted in the Staff’s comment, similar disclosures will be included which are tailored to the metric in question. Furthermore, the above-referenced disclosures will be included in both the Company’s periodic filings and in earnings releases furnished on Form 8-K. In each case, the disclosures will be included where the Company provides its reconciliation as required by Item 10(e)(1)(i)(b) of Regulation S-K.

Read in the reply ↗
In its next report

First report after the company's reply of 2014-07-18: 10-Q filed 2014-08-07 ↗, against the 10-Q filed 2014-05-08 ↗.

Tickdelta does not hold the text of both reports, so they are not compared here.

Parent Company Liquidity, page 105
SEC asked (2)
We note your response to comment 4 in our letter dated June 3, 2014 and the additional disclosure you intend to provide in future filings. Please tell us your consideration of disclosing further whether any subsidiary currently in default or all subsidiaries currently in default on an aggregate basis are presently at risk of triggering cross-default due to the proportion of the Parent Company’s total cash
Rest of the question

distributions contributed by these subsidiaries approaching the 20% materiality threshold in the credit agreement.

AES answered
The Company agrees that in future filings, it will disclose whether any subsidiary currently in default or all subsidiaries currently in default on an aggregate basis are presently at risk of triggering cross-default due to the proportion of the Parent Company’s total cash distributions contributed by these subsidiaries approaching the 20% materiality threshold in the credit agreement. Read in the reply ↗
In its next report

First report after the company's reply of 2014-07-18: 10-Q filed 2014-08-07 ↗, against the 10-Q filed 2014-05-08 ↗.

Tickdelta does not hold the text of both reports, so they are not compared here.

Operations, page 23 · Key Trends and Uncertainties, page 36
SEC asked (3)
We reviewed your response to comment 11 in our letter dated June 3, 2014. Please expand your disclosure in future filings to disclose that you determined there was no indicator of asset impairment and there was no reason to believe the carrying amount of the asset group was not recoverable.
AES answered
In future filings, the Company will include in its disclosure whether or not there were any indicators of asset impairment and whether or not there is any reason to believe the carrying amount of the asset group is not recoverable from undiscounted cash flows.

* * *

The Company acknowledges that: (i) the Company is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in its filings; (ii) Staff comments or changes to disclosure in response to Staff comments do not foreclose the Commission from taking any action with respect to the filings; and (iii) the Company may not assert Staff
Rest of the answer

comments as a defense in any proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person under the federal securities laws of the United States.

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First report after the company's reply of 2014-07-18: 10-Q filed 2014-08-07 ↗, against the 10-Q filed 2014-05-08 ↗.

Tickdelta does not hold the text of both reports, so they are not compared here.

Also in this review: closing letter, 2014-07-28

Form 10-K

2013-05-09 to 2013-06-05 · 5 questions · 1 letter from the SEC, 1 from the company
Review closed 2013-06-05
Legal and contingenciesGoodwill and impairmentAcquisitionsResults discussion (MD&A)Income taxesReserves and insuranceSegments
Operations, page 105 · Consolidated Results of Operations, page 115
SEC asked (1)
Please tell us what consideration you have given to providing disclosures that explain in greater detail the impact on your effective income tax rates and obligations of having proportionally higher earnings in countries where you have lower statutory tax rates.
Rest of the question

In this regard, please tell us what consideration you gave to explaining the relationship between the foreign and domestic effective tax rates in greater detail. It appears as though separately discussing the foreign effective income tax rates may be important information necessary to understanding your results of operations. We refer you to Item 303(a)(3)(i) of Regulation S-K and Section III.B of SEC Release 34-48960.

AES answered
The Company respectfully asserts that its current disclosure regarding effective tax rates is appropriate. In support of this assertion, the Company notes that it already discloses the principal items which impacted the effective tax rate. For 2012, foreign tax rates were not the principal driver of the

Company’s effective tax rate.
Rest of the answer

Rather, as noted on page 137 in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of the 2012 10-K, the principal item impacting the effective tax rate was the impairment of goodwill at Dayton Power & Light, which was not deductible for Federal income tax purposes. The Company expands on this disclosure in Note 22 – Income Taxes to the consolidated financial statements on page 232 of the 2012 10-K, under the header “Effective and Statutory Tax Rate Reconciliation.” In that table, the Company discloses that the impairment at DPL represented 203% of the 225% tax rate whereas foreign taxes reduced the tax rate by 21%. When adjusted for the DPL impairment, the foreign taxes reduced the tax rate by only 3%, consistent with prior years.

The Company believes its disclosure in MD&A together with the financial statement disclosure appropriately describes the actual and potential impact on its effective tax rate of business conducted in jurisdictions with differing tax rates and aligns with the guidance contained in Item 303(a)(3)(i) of Regulation S-K and Section III.B of SEC Release 34-48960. However, the Company acknowledges that when foreign taxes are significant to changes in the worldwide effective tax rate, the Company will address such impact in future MD&A. Furthermore, in light of the Staff’s comment, the Company will, in its MD&A for all future periods (beginning with the second quarter of 2013), provide the following paragraph under Income Taxes that highlights the potential impact on the effective tax rate of foreign earnings:

Our effective tax rate reflects the tax effect of significant operations outside the United States, which are generally taxed at rates lower than the U.S. statutory rate of 35 percent. A future proportionate change in the composition of income before income taxes from foreign and domestic tax jurisdictions could impact our periodic effective tax rate.

Read in the reply ↗
In its next report

First report after the company's reply of 2013-05-22: 10-Q filed 2013-08-08 ↗, against the 10-Q filed 2013-05-09 ↗.

Tickdelta does not hold the text of both reports, so they are not compared here.

Note 14. Contingencies, page 208 · Environmental, page 209
SEC asked (2)
We note in your disclosure on environmental contingencies that you believe it is reasonably possible that costs associated with such liabilities may exceed current reserves in amounts that could be material but cannot be estimated. Please clarify if your inability to estimate includes not only the additional possible loss but also the range of loss that could exceed current reserves.
Rest of the question

Additionally, please elaborate on how you can conclude that additional costs in excess of current reserves “could be material” if you are unable to estimate what that range of additional costs might be.

AES answered
Currently, the Company has a robust process in place to determine the environmental reserves required; however, the Company does not have a process to estimate the range of possible loss that could exceed current reserves. Although the current process does not allow the Company to estimate the range of losses, based on our experience with claims of this nature, the Company concluded that losses in excess of current reserves could be material. In future filings, the Company will expand its disclosure to include a range of reasonably possible losses that could exceed current reserves.
Rest of the answer

For example “In aggregate, the

Company estimates that the range of potential losses related to environmental matters, where estimable, to be in the range of $xx million to $xx million. The amounts considered reasonably possible do not include amounts reserved as discussed above.” To support this disclosure, the Company will refine its internal process to quantify the range of reasonably possible losses that could exceed current reserves.

Read in the reply ↗
In its next report

First report after the company's reply of 2013-05-22: 10-Q filed 2013-08-08 ↗, against the 10-Q filed 2013-05-09 ↗.

Tickdelta does not hold the text of both reports, so they are not compared here.

Note 14. Contingencies, page 208 · Environmental, page 209
SEC asked (3)
If you conclude that you cannot estimate the reasonably possible additional loss or range of loss, please supplementally: (1) explain to us the procedures you undertake on a quarterly basis to attempt to develop a range of reasonably possible loss for disclosure and (2) for each material matter, what specific factors are causing the inability to estimate and when you expect those factors to be alleviated.
Rest of the question

We recognize that there are a number of uncertainties and potential outcomes associated with environmental loss contingencies. Nonetheless, an effort should be made to develop estimates for purposes of disclosure, including determining which of the potential outcomes are reasonably possible and what the reasonably possible range of losses would be for those reasonably possible outcomes.

AES answered
As noted in the Company’s response to Comment 2, the Company will provide a range of loss in future filings with the Commission. Read in the reply ↗
In its next report

First report after the company's reply of 2013-05-22: 10-Q filed 2013-08-08 ↗, against the 10-Q filed 2013-05-09 ↗.

Tickdelta does not hold the text of both reports, so they are not compared here.

Note 24. Acquisitions and Dispositions, page 240
SEC asked (4)
We note that in the Electric Security Plan that you filed for approval with the Public Utility Commission of Ohio, you agreed to request separation of your generation assets from your transmission and distribution assets in recognition that a restructuring of DP&L operations will be necessary, in compliance with Ohio law.
Rest of the question

Please tell us how you considered the pending electric deregulation in the purchase price allocation at the close of the DPL acquisition. As part of your response, please explain to us your valuation methodology with respect to each of the generation, transmission and distribution assets. Given you report US-generation and US-utilities as separate segments, explain your basis for viewing DPL as one component for goodwill evaluation.

AES answered
We are responding to the Staff’s comment in two parts. In the first part, we discuss the Company’s valuation of DPL in accordance with ASC 805 as of the Acquisition date. In the second part, we discuss the reportable segments and reporting units for DPL in accordance with ASC 280 and ASC 350

Purchase Price Allocation and Valuation. In accordance with ASC 805, the Company recorded the fair value of all identifiable assets and liabilities acquired in the DPL acquisition. The most significant assets related to the generation, transmission and distribution assets.
Rest of the answer

The fair value of each of the generation facilities of DPL were generally measured using an income approach using a discounted cash flow model which incorporated market participant assumptions. The fair value of the regulated transmission and distribution assets using market participant assumptions was determined to approximate the carrying amount as of the Acquisition date as the existing regulation associated with the assets results in the Public Utility Commission of Ohio allowing recovery of only historical cost plus a regulated rate of return. A market participant would assume the regulated rate of return would approximate the discount rate as it would not be financially feasible or legally permissible to separate transmission and distribution assets from the regulation and would assume there is no higher and better use for the assets. Under an income approach, discounting the estimated future cash flows by the regulated rate of return would result in a fair value that approximates the historical cost

(i.e., carrying amount). With regard to the separation of assets referenced in the Staff’s comment, the Company did consider the potential separation at the acquisition date of DPL and concluded that the potential separation does not impact the assumptions used in estimating the future cash flows used in the determination of the fair value of the assets acquired. The separation of the generation assets from the transmission and distribution assets in and of itself would not alter the underlying assumptions related to the future cash flows of each generation facility.

Segment and Reporting Unit Analysis. While the

Company reports US Generation and US Utilities as separate reportable segments, all of DPL’s operations are included in the US Utilities reportable segment based on application of the segment accounting guidance within ASC 280. Specifically the

Chief Operating Decision Maker regularly reviews operating results for DPL Inc. (“DPL”) on a consolidated basis in order to make decisions and allocate resources, and therefore, DPL meets the definition of an operating segment. As disclosed in Note 10 to the Company’s 2012 consolidated financial statements – Goodwill and Other Intangibles Assets of the 2012 Form 10-K the Company applied ASC 350 and determined there are two reporting units within the DPL operating segment: Dayton Power and Light Company (“DP&L”) and DPL Energy Resources, Inc. (“DPLER”). We evaluated the DP&L reporting unit as one component for goodwill purposes (separate from the DPLER reporting unit) as the operations and cash flows can be clearly distinguished, operationally and for financial reporting purposes. Segment Management reviews stand-alone reports for DP&L in the aggregate (generation, transmission and distribution). Separate discrete financial information is not reviewed by Segment Management on the basis of generation and transmission and distribution assets

Comment 5

– Note 24. Acquisitions and Dispositions, page 240

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First report after the company's reply of 2013-05-22: 10-Q filed 2013-08-08 ↗, against the 10-Q filed 2013-05-09 ↗.

Tickdelta does not hold the text of both reports, so they are not compared here.

Note 24. Acquisitions and Dispositions, page 240
SEC asked (5)
Please tell us whether the “refinements” to your assumptions in determining step 1 and step 2 of the goodwill evaluation were applied retroactively as of September 30, 2012 or were the result of additional information subsequent to that date. In either event, please supplementally explain the nature of the “refinements.”
AES answered
As further described below, in its interim unaudited financial statements included in the Form 10-Q for the quarter ended

September 30, 2012 (“the 2012 10-Q”), the

Company estimated the goodwill impairment based on its application of ASC 350-20-35-18. The goodwill impairment was finalized during the fourth quarter of 2012 and the final impairment differed from the estimate recognized in the quarter ended September 30, 2012 10-Q by $33 million or less than 2%.

As noted above, the Company recognized an estimate of the goodwill impairment in accordance with ASC 350-20-35-18, which states as
Rest of the answer

follows:

“If the second step of the goodwill impairment test is not complete before the financial statements are issued or are available to be issued …and a goodwill impairment loss is probable and can be reasonably estimated, the best estimate of that loss shall be recognized in those financial statements.”

The Company disclosed in the notes to its September 30, 2012 interim unaudited financial statements in its Q3 2012 Form 10-Q disclosure on page 37, the material assumptions included within the discounted cash flow valuation model and the fact that further refinements to these assumptions could have a significant impact on the enterprise value and the resulting implied fair value of goodwill.

During the fourth quarter of 2012, the Company completed the measurement of the goodwill impairment charge. The refinements were made primarily to assumptions related to property, plant and equipment, intangibles, the valuation of intercompany agreements between DP&L and DPLER and the associated deferred taxes on these items. The refinements were based upon information that existed as of September 30, 2012 and were retroactively applied as of September 30, 2012. The refinements described above resulted in a $33 million reduction of the previously estimated impairment loss, which was less than 2% of the original estimate of $1.85 billion.

* *

*

The Company acknowledges that: (i) the Company is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in its filings; (ii) Staff comments or changes to disclosure in response to Staff comments do not foreclose the Commission from taking any action with respect to the filings; and (iii) the Company may not assert Staff comments as a defense in any proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person under the federal securities laws of the United States.

Read in the reply ↗
In its next report

First report after the company's reply of 2013-05-22: 10-Q filed 2013-08-08 ↗, against the 10-Q filed 2013-05-09 ↗.

Tickdelta does not hold the text of both reports, so they are not compared here.

Also in this review: closing letter, 2013-06-05

Other letters

Letters without questions

UPLOAD and CORRESP
3 other letters: notices that a filing will not be reviewed, requests to declare a registration effective, and the like

From the SEC's correspondence on EDGAR: staff letters (form UPLOAD) and company letters (form CORRESP), 19 letters filed since 2013-05-09. Questions and answers are matched by their numbers; topics come from words in each question. The reports are compared word for word (same form, before the first SEC letter against the first report after the company's reply). No AI.

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